There are well over two thousand Alteans. They've been hiding out for millions of years, creating their own culture: farming, bartering, theatrics, music-
They even have different regions and dialects. There's a accent that's a mix of British, Australian, and the South of North America. Granted, it's been over a million years for everyone else, but only maybe a hundred for them. Time works so weird in space. Still, there's a lot of them, and obviously the paladins can't fit them all in their lions. So they called some friends.
Aliens they've saved throughout the universe who have the tech and space to help carry a entire race across the galaxy have come to repay their debts. Ships as large as cities find their way onto the planet and park miles away from the civilization. Everywhere you look, aliens of vast cultures, foe and friend, have come through for the paladins of Voltron to transport the once lost but now found Alteans. They're children run through the bazaar, playing silly games and laughing. It's almost like a festival: Alteans are helped in packaging their goods, clothes, and such; tardigrade-like creatures hand out drinks to the sporting men and women as they walk for miles to the ships. Alteans cry and say goodbye to their land before picking up their bags and making their way up the inclined path, into one of the many ships, to face their new destiny on the Planet -='/,**#=!4.
Meanwhile, Shiro is in the conference room inside one of the allying ships, having been called by one of the aliens, a Olkari, because the Blade of Marmora needed to talk to them. The rest of the paladins were busy guiding the Alteans, so he decided to go on before them. No use keeping them waiting.
Kolivan stood stone-faced on the screen before him, thin white ponytail wrapped around his neck under his hood. It's been awhile since they've talked face to face, even across screens. The Blade have been working on infiltrating rebel Galra troops, sneaking their way into encrypted files and trying to postpone the emperor election.
And find Haggar.
She's completely disappeared since they're last run in with her. With...the clone. Shiro got a headache just thinking about it. That thing had taken his life from him. And not just that, but his reality. Sometimes he felt like he wasn't even real. What if he was another clone? Would he even know? Did the other him know? And the headaches- they were awful. He couldn't think for awhile, phantom pain crawling up his missing arm, clinging to his shoulder. He'd black out right in the middle of conversation and then find himself in a completely different place than he was before.
And it's Haggar's fault. What did she do to him? Would he feel this tired forever? Did she suck all the life out of this body right before he moved into it from the black lion? Is his clone dead? And what is she doing now? Hiding out, planning, getting ready for the emperor's inauguration? Is Sendak with her? Zethrid? Ezor? Did she still have control of this body that technically wasn't his?
He remembered meeting his clone for the first time. The black lion knew immediately that he wasn't right. Not only because Shiro was with him, but because of the aura he gave off. But then he started pleading, really wanting to help Lance and Pidge and Hunk and Allura, and he realized that the clone really did think he was Shiro. He really did want to help them.
The clone thought he was real.
So Shiro let him. He convinced the black lion to let him in, and from there Shiro took on the role of the black lion.
It doesn't make any sense to him, even now, but he feels bad for the clone. He tried his best. It just wasn't good enough.
Kolivan started before the rest of the paladins could arrive. "The time for the Kral Zera is near."
Shiro felt his blood freeze. "What?"
"In two spicolian movements, the last of Zarkon's Galra allies will gather on Planet Feyiv to fight for the throne." Kolivan's voice becomes grave. "There isn't much time. With Lotor gone, we no longer have anyone on our side who can help maintain the peace between the Galra and the rest of the races."
Another headache rose to the surface. A pulse through Shiro's temple caused a groan and a cringe. He brought a hand to his head.
"Shiro," Keith's voice called from behind him.
He straightened up, ignoring the raging thrum of his headache.
"Kolivan, what's the news?" Keith appeared beside Shiro, taking Kolivan's attention off of him.
The Galra aren't very happy with Voltron right now, even the reformed ones. They refuse to believe what happened with Lotor. He was the first stage of a new beginning. He went for reforms like nothing they'd seen in their lifetimes, and then Voltron got rid of him, just like Zarkon. Of course, there are those who are glad to have Lotor out of the way-
Those that they will have to fight off at Kral Zera.
It'll take a few days, or quintants, before they will be able to get the Alteans across the universe. Another good few weeks to actually find someone to replace Lotor. But then again, they don't have a few weeks. The Blade of Marmora and Matt's team are the only ones on the lookout right now because of the Transport. Now that the Kral Zera is coming up, they will have to speed everything up.
Keith clenched the controls, glaring into space as he raced farther and farther from the hidden planet. The black lion growled but didn't make a move to stop him. He pressed a button on the monitor, starting up the simulation. Loud explosions went off right into his ear as the sight before him shifted into a crusty desert plain, dirt bursting up and out of the ground. He dodged the mines, spying the body of water coming up.
The mines started to activate subsequently, practically blinding him, but he kept his eyes focused and his movements instinctual. The wolf behind him sneezed himself awake, before blinking and slowly going back to sleep.
The black lion reached the ocean. Just as he thought he was out of imminent harm's way, water blasted up to his right. He caught himself before he could get caught, but the strikes were unforgiving. He dodged left, right, but a surprise hit from the back was what got him. There was a scream.
Keith took in deep breaths, his jet black bangs stuck to his forehead. He sat back in his seat, hands loose on the controls. The simulation ended and the windshield cleared to reveal the purples and blues of the galaxy. He relaxed.
He heard the door slide open behind him. "What was that?" You screamed, hand grasping the doorway, heart racing in your chest having just woke up from a midday nap, which was very strange for a part of you, because sleep usually wasn't that easy. At least your fanfiction self didn't have insomnia. Or sleep apnea.
Keith snapped his head around to look at you. "Raider! I, uh, I didn't know you were still in here.."
"Yeah, I took a nap," you stumbled your way in, covering your mouth as you yawned. "What're we doing?" You look out the windshield. You don't see the other paladins. "Where's the others?"
"Oh, no, I just," he turns back around in his seat, glancing over the galactic plains. "wanted to get some air."
"In space?" You rose a non-existent eyebrow. "What a life. Just say I need some space, and then you literally go to space."
"Yeah," he said absentmindedly, eyes not straying from the stars. "What a life…"
Silence passes between you two. Your hand is on his chair as you peer at him. He's not paying you any attention. It doesn't look like he's really all that into the view now, either. You turn your eyes to the scene before you, but all you see are words on pages. You skim down the dialogue.
"So," you squint, reading your lines. "did something happen?"
"Nothing for you to worry about." His eyes come into focus again and he sits up in his seat, regripping the controls. "I should get you back."
"Dude, I'm on this boat with you guys, too. Whatever obstructs our journey back to Earth is my business," you say, then smile. "Not that I don't like spending time with you guys."
He took a minute to think. As you waited you scrolled back over the text you missed while "asleep".
Oooh, the Kral Zera...right, that's a problem.
Keith crossed his arms. "I trusted Lotor. For two seconds, I trusted him." The wolf behind you growled in his sleep. "And then he betrayed us all. Sometimes I wonder what would've happened if I hadn't left Voltron."
You screw up your face at that. If he hadn't left Voltron, he-
"I wouldn't have found my mother, of course, and I wouldn't have found out about what he'd been doing, but something seems so wrong-"
"You shouldn't feel bad for having seen the best of someone." You say.
"It's not that. I mean the situation itself." He meets your gaze, his features grave. "It's like we're missing something. Like there's one more piece to the puzzle that we haven't gotten yet. I just-" he looks back out into space- "can't think of what it is..."
"Huh…" You nod, knitting your eyebrows together in thought. Looks like the story's picking up.
"The Kral Zera is in two weeks," Keith starts to turn the black lion around. "We have to get someone to replace Lotor in that time, or we're gonna have a lot more problems coming up."
"Mm, do the others know?"
.
"Just me and Shiro. Right after we finished talking to the Blade, he had a headache and went off somewhere."
"A headache?"
Shit/z.
"Well, since you're so adamant about being a part of this team-" Keith starts, changing the conversation with a cocky look on his face-" You used to be a pilot, right? How about I teach you a few things?"
You find Kuron at the cliff of a ravine. You're not entirely sure how you got there, but if you have to find a way back through all these trees around you, you'll manage somehow. He's standing with his back turned to you, looking out over the edge, leaning against a tree.
"Kuron?" You call in a low voice, just loud enough for him to hear you.
He twisted around and you got a good look at his eyes. Yup, that's him.
"Raider," he gave you a surprised look. "How did you find me?"
You walk up to him, leaves cackling under your feet. You ignore his question. "What are you doing all the way over here?"
He's looking down at you. Down at you. He's taller than us.
"I needed to get some space." He answers.
"Wow, you and Keith have very different definitions of getting some space."
"What?"
"Nevermind. It's not important." You examine the stream. No fish, but that's probably because this is another planet. Then how was there water here? Wait, if there wasn't water on other planets, then how would the paladins have survived this long?
Well it is a TV show.
I have questions.
I am confusion.
Mars has ice, doesn't it? Or is that the moon?
I think it's Jupiter.
Ok, you guys, back to the story.
You read forward, wanting a hint to what the problem is. You see a recurring point of interest.
Oh!
"Is it Honerva?" You ask.
Kuron freezes up. "How did you-"
"Keith told me about the Kral Zera. I guessed from there." We're getting so good at lying!
He sighs and sits down against the tree, one leg pulled out in front of him, off the edge of the cliff. It's only a six feet drop down but a part of you doesn't like the idea of dropping, or falling, down anyway. You sit against the same tree, adjacent to him.
"What'll happen when I see her? What if I attack everyone again?"
"That's not gonna happen."
"How do you know that?" His voice rose.
"You gotta be positive, my guy!" You say, turning towards him. "And, seriously, you attacking six other uninjured warriors at once in your state is bound to fail." You point to his arm.
Kuron set his hand on his armless shoulder, eyes low and dim.
"What makes you any different from Shiro?" You put a hand next to his knee. He meets your gaze. "Or Lance, or Keith, or Pidge? What makes you any less important than any of them? You wouldn't give up on any of them if they were in your situation, would you?"
"It's not the same!"
"How is it not-!"
"Because I'm not real!"
"Then I'm not either." You say, heart pumping fast, adrenaline rushing through your veins. Kuron gives you a incredulous look. "If you're not real, then neither am I. If you can prove to me right now that you don't have a consciousness, or any self-awareness," you pause, gulp. "If you can prove that you're heart isn't beating in your chest, that you don't have any emotions whatsoever, then I'll believe you're not real."
Kuron stumbles, mouth opening and closing, starting and then stopping, but in the end he can't say anything.
"That's what I thought." You nod once before moving beside him, swinging your legs over the edge of the cliff. He's looking across the stream again, to the other wall of thick forest. You settle your eyes on his scar for a few seconds, before wrapping your arm around his waist. He doesn't stop you. "I know you're real...and she can't make you do anything you don't want to. You're in control."
A few minutes pass with distinct silence between you two.
"Thanks…" He says after a while.
"You're welcome." You say with a smile on your face, listening to the calming sound of the stream.
A small smile gradually graced Kuron's lips.
.
"Where have you guys been?"
You blink comically, wincing at the loud burst of noise right in your face. You find yourself in the clearing where the ships are parked with Coran running towards you. Kuron is beside you- he hasn't turned back yet?- and his body is completely still, eyes wide.
He's panicking.
"We're about to take off!" Coran flings his arms around. "Get in your lions and get ready for lift off! We're in a hurry-" he starts shooing you with his hands. "Go, go, go!"
"Which one?" You ask, referring to which lion you are set up to ride in.
"Any of them! Pick one!"
The last of the Alteans are climbing their way into ships, the loud thrum of roaring engines starting up and people running. In only a few minutes, the area is clear of everything but ships and trees. You found yourself ushered into the red lion, keeping an eye on Kuron as you hop inside and watch from behind Lance as Kuron stops right outside the black lion beside you, shivers, and looks around, confused. You sigh, assured that Shiro is back. He's pulled into the lion with Krolia. The red lion raises from the ground and you give one last look to the village. You swear you can hear the youngest Alteans crying their goodbyes from the other ships, as if they were all calling out in unison.
Voltron is escorting the Alteans across the universe, just as precaution. This is a part of their job; if anything were to happen, and hopefully it won't, then they will be here to protect them. They can't risk it. The aliens still can't believe they've been hidden for millions of years. It's gonna be a long ride home.
The hardest part of going out of orbit is getting out of orbit. There are so much debris blocking their way when they first leave the planet that it takes thirty minutes to maneuver out of it. There are some pretty close calls, but you all make it out alright. You sigh in relief as you finally see all clear skies- er, space. Instinctively, you look down at Lance. He pulls back, relaxing in his seat finally and letting the red lion handle the rest. He sighs and looks to his right, not at you, but out into space. Beside the red lion is the blue lion, and his eyes are glued to it, mystified.
You're sure it's not because he misses shooting ice from it's maw.
"Oooh, she's cute, you gonna ask her out?" You joke, getting his attention.
He lets out a low laugh. "I already tried. Girls' got high standards."
"Higher than you? She's looking for the impossible, then."
He smiles and raises a hand. You slap it.
"I was talking about the blue lion, by the way." You specify.
"I like you," he wriggles a finger at you, grinning now. "Where have you been all this time?"
You click your tongue and wink, shooting finger guns at him. "I'm socially awkward and that one joke took all of my energy."
"Relatable."
"I am a hollow of a person."
"Still same." he coughs, turning his gaze to the infinite galaxy and the many ships flowing through it. "Hey..uh, do you know anything about girls? Like, alien girls?" You raise an eyebrow. Before he even looks at you, he's chastising himself. "Nevermind. Stupid, stupid!" Then, "Why doesn't Allura like me?"
You pat his shoulder. He looks out the window again, at the blue lion. "Do you think she's OK over there?"
"What do you mean?"
"I mean she's finally got her people back. She's princess of a race again, after all this time. Practically a queen! And she's lost almost everything already: her dad, her castle, her planet..and now.."
A thought comes to you, and you give him a grave look. "No. No, she isn't going to leave any of you behind."
He looks at you with that wicked scrunch of his thin eyebrow. You continue. "She's not going to let you all go to Earth without her. There's no way that's going to happen. We're gonna get the Alteans to their new home and then we're going to fix the Galra empire and then we are going to Earth. Together." You say, "You guys have to rebuild the castle, don't you? The castle ship?"
He doesn't look convinced at first, until you mention the ship, and then he looks away for a second, realization dawning in his dark, slitted eyes. "You're right!"
"I know I'm right." You grin. This is the most grinning some of you felt like you've done in a long time. "How did you guys even function without me?"
He shook his head, amusement quirking his lips up at the corner. "I have no idea."
"And to answer your first question- yeah, I think she's OK over there. She's gonna do a great job ruling the Alteans."
He snorted. "There's no doubt of that." He scratches his scalp, looking a bit uncomfortable. "Also..thanks. You know, for all the advice."
Yeah, just wish I could take my own advice.
Learned from experience, kid.
I have no idea what you guys are talking about.
"You're welcome." You settle on.
He gives you a fake flirty look. "It's almost like you have a crush on me."
"Ha! You wish!" You laugh.
"Not even just a bit?"
"No, actually, you're right. That's it. That's exactly it." You play along. "I'm drowning. Completely stumped."
An alarm forces your attention away from each other, unfortunately. Because of course something had to happen during this trip.
Damn/dang author.
You and Lance are looking into the dead of space as Allura's voice asks loudly over the command, "Can you see that?"
Your eyes catch something in the purple and black of the galaxy. It's far out, but it's there, like little dots, glinting in the starlight. But their triangle shaped, and moving. And you recognize it almost instantly, like it was just pulled out of your mind.
They're Galra ships. Dozens of them.
"Oh fudge, you're joking me…"